A six-year-old mine dispute between the villagers of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia's largest company, the Broken Hill Pty Company (BHP) Ltd has been settled out of court. PNG landowners and their Australian law firm, Slater and Gordon, agreed to drop their claim for US $3.2 billion compensation for pollution caused by BHP majority-owned Ok Tedi copper- gold mine. As part of the settlement, BHP would include almost 35,000 landowners in the US $80 million compensation package which was agreed late last year by BHP and the PNG government.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.